Handbrake Cable Failures

[city998]

I installed a Stage 1 kit (Minispares) w/RC40 exhaust a couple of years ago. Since then I've gone through three handbrake cables (single cable front section). They all break a few inches forward of the yoke and ther's no obvious wear point. last time I even put a short length of rubber fuel hose around that section in case it was rubbing on the silencer. The cable still broke and there was no wear on the section of hose (no burn marks either). Anyone have any ideas on the cause of the failures?

[The Marcos Graveyard]

Too much vigorous pulling of the handbrake, or the free length not propperly adjusted, it should hold the car on a few clicks of the lever.

[city998]

I'd accept that if it was failing at the crimp but we're talking steel cable breaking away from any joint and after only a few weeks!! I park on a slope so I need to ensure the brakes are doing all the holding rather than depend on engine compression. I'm not that strong!!! Must be another reeason. I just can't see it yet.

[The Marcos Graveyard]

Retro fit a double cable system from an earlier Mini perhaps ?

[city998]

Hmmm . . . perhaps; but there's no guarantee that will resolve it and I still want to find the root cause of the failures. If I didn't have to do all my work out in the street (or if it was summer!) I'd put another cable in and set the car on its wheels while looking at the cable with brakes engaged and not engaged. Can't see that happening for a few months now though. I keep a bevelled piece of 4x2 as a wheel chock when I have to park on a slope. Had an alternator fail yesterday too so that will mean bussing to work next week unitl I can get it rebuilt (lower voltage with engine running than stopped!). The joys of motoring!!!

[The Marcos Graveyard]

When parking on a slope, turn the wheels in to the curb, if handbrake fails the car cant go far.

[city998]

No can do. It's my driveway!! Anyway, the wheel chock works well. When I start the car I reverse up the drive until I can reach down, collect the chock, and drop it into the passenger's footwell!